FW Cop Accused of Smoking Pot While On Duty

In the latest scandal to hit the Fort Worth police department, an officer was arrested Tuesday after he was caught with marijuana, police said. (Published Thursday, April 29, 2010)

Police said the investigation was the result of a tip from an unidentified person who reported witnessing Lamb smoke mariijuana in uniform, in his patrol car, while on duty.

Undercover officers assigned to a special internal affairs investigative unit then set up a sting operation, police said.

FWPD Officer Charged with Drug Possession

A Fort Worth police officer has been charged with marijuana possession and resigned, while the police chief promised to crack down on wrong-doing in the department. (Published Wednesday, April 28, 2010)

An undercover officer posed as a citizen who wanted to turn in 86 grams of marijuana that he found to police. Lamb did not report the incident or bring the drugs to the property room, police said.

Instead, investigators followed Lamb to his house where he moved the marijuana to his personal vehicle, police said.

FW Police Officer Arrested in Drug Sting

Investigators later executed a search warrant on his car and house and recovered the drugs, police said.

Lamb is free on $7,500 bond. Jail records showed no attorney.

Lamb, 34, joined the department in 2002. Police Chief Jeff Halstead announced the charge and resignation of Officer Lamb at a Wednesday news conference. Halstead also said he'll reorganize the department to increase field supervision of officers.

"I'm ashamed," said police chief Jeffrey Halstead. "This will not be tolerated."

The arrest follows a string of embarrassing incidents for the department in recent months.

On Friday, off-duty officer Michael Buchanan crashed his pickup into a house in south Fort Worth, knocking a couple out of bed. He was arrested on charges of intoxication assault, and police said his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

Off-duty officer Jesus Cisneros was charged with intoxication manslaughter after his city-owned SUV slammed into a car driven by Sonia Baker on Dec. 11. The mother of two was killed. Police said Cisneros, a narcotics officer, was drunk and had just left a bar, where as many as 20 other officers were celebrating a birthday. Cisneros later resigned.

At least six traffic officers are under FBI investigation, suspected of falsifying information on tickets to collect overtime they did not work.

Ed Adcock, a former vice officer, was indicted in August on bribery charges. Prosecutors accuse him of tipping off operators of 8-liner gaming parlors about a secret police raid in 2008.

In June, Fort Worth police made national headlines in the controversial raid of a gay bar. After a long investigation, Halstead admitted the officers used poor judgement and violated policies. Several officers received short suspensions.

Last year, the Tarrant County medical examiner ruled a mentally ill man's death was a homicide after an officer used a Taser for 54 seconds to subdue him. After hearing evidence in the case, a Tarrant County grand jury declined to indict the officer, and the department cleared her of any wrongdoing.

On behalf of our City Council, everyone shares in the disappointment and frustration that one of our own police officers, sworn to uphold the law, has been arrested for possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence. Let me be clear: Fort Worth has in the past, and will in the future, strongly support the honorable, heroic men and women who protect us and our neighborhoods. But, right is right and wrong is wrong. Those wearing the badge who choose to violate their oath or ignore the laws they are sworn to uphold will be revealed. They will not be the exception to the rules when they are the ones who are expected to set the example for the rest of us. They will be dealt with, swiftly and severely, and will not be welcome here in our city.

My thanks to Chief Halstead for his swift action in this matter and for his creation of the police department’s Special Investigations Unit. It conducted the investigation and undercover operation over the last two days. Our Chief has my full support. I look forward to continuing our work together with the City Manager, and his staff, to ensure our citizens’ safety and well-being.